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Home / Technology / Electrical / Difference Between Capacitor and Inductor

Difference Between Capacitor and Inductor

Posted on July 25, 2011 by admin

Capacitor vs Inductor

Capacitor and inductor are two electrical components used in circuit design. Both of them belong to
passive elements category, which draw energy from the circuit, store, and then release. Both
capacitor and inductor are widely used in AC (alternative current) and signal filtering applications.

Capacitor

Capacitor is made of two conductors separated by an insulating dielectric. When a potential

difference is provided to these two conductors, an electric field is created and electric charges are
stored. Once the potential difference is being removed and two conductors are connected, a current
(stored charges) flows to neutralize that potential difference and electric field. The rate of discharge
gets reduced with time and this is known as the capacitor discharging curve.

In analysis, capacitor is considered as an insulator for DC (direct current) and conducting element for
AC (alternating currents). Therefore, it is used as a DC blocking element in many circuit designs.
Capacitance of a capacitor is known as the capability to store electric charges, and it is measured in
the unit called Farad (F). However in practical circuits, capacitors are available in the ranges of micro
Farads (µF) to pico Farads (pF).

Inductor
Inductor is simply a coil and it stores energy as a magnetic field when an electric current passing
through it. Inductance is a measure of an inductor’s capability to store energy. Inductance is
measured in unit Henry (H). When an alternative current is passing through an inductor, a voltage
across the device is observable due to changing magnetic field.

Unlike capacitors, inductors act as conductors for DC, and the voltage drop on the element is almost
zero, as there is no changing magnetic field. Transformers are made of coupled pair of inductors.

What is the difference between Capacitor and Inductor?

1. Capacitor stores an electric field, whereas inductor stores a magnetic

field.

2. Capacitor is open circuit for DC, and inductor is short circuit for DC.

3. In an AC circuit, for capacitor, voltage ‘lags’ current, whereas for inductor,

current ‘lags’ voltage.

4. Energy stored in a capacitor is calculated in terms of voltage (1/2 x CV2),

and this is done in terms of current for inductor (1/2 x LI2)

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"Difference Between Capacitor and Inductor." DifferenceBetween.Com. July 25, 2011. < http://www.differencebetween.com/difference-
between-capacitor-and-vs-inductor/ >

Filed Under: Electrical

Tagged With: capacitor, capacitor discharging curve, Capacitors, Energy stored in a capacitor, Energy stored in a inductor, Farad,
Henry, Inductor, insulating dielectric, micro Farads, passive elements, pico Farads, Transformers, unit of capacitor, unit of
inductance

Comments

ambika says
OCTOBER 11, 2014 AT 1:23 PM

how does magnetic feld s created in the coil when current s passed through the coil?

Reply

ABSphreak says
FEBRUARY 23, 2015 AT 7:35 AM

You can check out electromagnetism at how stuff works… or other information on
internet.

Reply
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